Immanuel - God With Us!!

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6

If you ever met her you would see a woman full of joy, smiling, laughing, giggling even though her life has had many bumps in the road she is an Overcomer! She lives in Florida now and I had not seen her for years. I tried to contact her this summer because I knew she was visiting Maine to no avail. BUT GOD, when my husband and I visited Pemaquid on a Sunday afternoon, while walking along the shore line overlooking the beautiful waves hitting the rocks I saw this lady sitting on a bench, lo and behold, it was my friend, Lillian. We stood amazed at how God brought us together that day after so long a time of not seeing each other. Here is her poem she wrote and shared with me.

Gormy Fingers, Joyous Heart

by Lillian Saksek June 2009

Gormy Fingers is my Name

Fighting Aging is my Game

What keeps me going is His Grace

Soon I'll look into His Face.

Overcoming is my Name

Honoring Jesus is my Game

The Rewards He promises make me smile,

I'll receive them in awhile.

When this race of earth is done

It will be by His Grace that I've won.

The challenges of this life will seem so small

When into His arms I'll fall.

When I'm soaring through the air

All my loved ones will be there

Glad reunions will take place

As we rejoice in His embrace.

Weapons

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. NKV

WEAPONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE CHILD OF GOD

1. THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

2. THE NAME OF JESUS

Philippians 2:19b-10 ...the name above every name ..that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those one earth, and of those under the earth.

His Name is all that He Himself is and has. Strongholds of the enemy are demolished when His name is invoked. The devil was defeated at the cross, he is defeated right now by the resurrection and he will be defeated on the day of judgment.

3. THE WORD OF GOD

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piecing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

4. PRAISE

Acts 16:25 'And at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, ....Suddenly....'

God is in the suddenlies and a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison and immediately all the doors were opened and every one's chains were loosed.

2 Chronicles 20:22 ...when the people of Judah began to sing and praise, the Lord defeated the enemies.

Today, you may have a battle looming and you need a victory. Stand in the power of the blood of Jesus, and His Name, using the Word of God and Praise Him and see the Victory won!!

EAGLES in a storm

Did you know that an eagle knows

when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?

The eagle will fly to some high spot

and wait for the winds to come.

When the storm hits, it sets its wings

so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm.

While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

The eagle does not escape the storm.

It simply uses the storm to lift it higher.

It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us-

and all of us will experience them.

We can rise above them by setting

our heart and mind on things above.

He is the author and finisher of our Faith.

A place of safety.

He will never leave or forsake us

He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities.

We can soar above the storm that brings tragedy,

sickness, or other disappointments in our lives.

On His wings of Grace and Love we can learn to soar.

His Love is deeper than any storm we can ever face.

And by His grace we can soar as the eagle.

PRAYER

Lord of heaven and Earth I give you Honor and Praise. In my time of need help me to learn to lift my eyes unto the hills where my help comes from and learn to soar as the eagle in the midst of the storms of life.

In Jesus Name..Amen!!

"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31

Fruit of the Spirit

Fruit of the Spirit

Love..............is inclusive.

Joy.................love exulting.

Peace...............love in repose.

Longsuffering........love on trial.

Goodness................love in action.

Gentleness..............love in endurance

Self-Control................love in temperance.

Patience...................................love at school.

Based on Galations 5:22-23

Quote for the Day

'SORROW looks back, WORRY looks around, and FAITH looks UP... "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain'

So let this be the day you dance and Look up unto the hills where your help comes from.

Overwhelmed!!

"When I am overwhelmed"

Just speak the name of JESUS!!!

Psalm 61 English Revised Version

1 For the Chief Musician; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For thou hast been a refuge for me, a strong tower from the enemy.

4 I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever: I will take refuge in the covert of thy wings. Selah
5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
6 Thou wilt prolong the king's life: his years shall be as many generations.
7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare lovingkindness and truth, that they may preserve him.
8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Speaking the Name of Jesus will bring peace and assurance that all things are in His hand.
I remember words to a song that have always ministered to me.

'Peace, peace wonderful peace.

Coming down from the Father above.

Sweep over my spirit forever I pray, in fathomless billows of love.'

Let His love overwhelm you TODAY!!

When I don't know what to do

A song that has ministered to me over and over again this past week is "When I don't know what to do" written by Tommy Walker and sung by Charles Billingsley on 'God of the ages' done live at Thomas Road.
Have you ever felt or do you feel alone, abandoned, shaken, in turmoil and on and on and wonder what am I to do. This song brings it on home and ministers to the very core of you if you will allow the truth of it to get into your heart.

'We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.' 2 Cor. 4:8-10 rsv

Lord I surrender all to your strong and faithful hand

In everything I will give thanks to you

I’ll just trust your perfect plan.

When I don’t know what to do (I’ll lift my hands)

When I don’t know what to say (I’ll speak your praise)

When I don’t know where to go (I’ll run to your throne)

When I don’t know what to think (I’ll stand on your truth)

When I don’t know what to do.

Lord I surrender all

Though I’ll never understand

All the mysteries around me

I’ll just trust your perfect plan

As I bow my knee send your perfect peace

Send your perfect peace Lord

As I lift my hands let your healing come

Let your healing come to me (repeat 3x’s)

When I don’t know what to do.

Allow the Lord to touch you and find strength and peace in His Word. Surrender to Him and trust the God of your salvation!!

Just a thought!!

I have been reading Matthew 5, 6, 7 each day and I glean something new from the words of Jesus as he sits teaching His disciples.

Today it is in thinking about a dear friends going through a hard place and the thought that their feet are planted on a rock. Jesus Christ is the rock of our salvation and He will not move if we stay stationed on Him.

Matthew 7:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25. the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
26. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27. the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
28. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
29. because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

In looking at our lives which of the foundations and where our feet are planted. Are they on the rock that is stable, unmovable and dependable or sand that causes everything under us to move and wash away?

Haying Season finally!!

We are finally having some sun or as least for a couple of day. We are wrapping because of the wetness of the lands. Here is son-50, gramp-69 and granddaughter-13. Three generations -what a beautiful sight and of course, I captured it with my camera. Hay is baled in the field and brought home and put on a machine that granddaughter runs and is wrapped in plastic. It will ferment over the winter and contains a lot of nutrients. The cows really like it. We do not feed grain. We have raised beef for a lot of years and have our own meat. There are no additives. Here is Alli running the wrapper. This is her third year and she is very skilled at it. What a joy to Gramp!! She loves to farm so he is really happy about that. She has a horse, goat and takes care of them herself.

To everything there is a season!!

Joseph and his value

As a quilter there is a quote, ‘throw me a piece of scraps and I will make a quilt’
Have you ever stopped to think about your life? How many times we see the scraps or pieces in our lives that we wonder what the Lord can do with. I have a friend who is a skilled quilter and really enjoys the process of those little pieces. She will make a plan and begin to cut carefully and fit them together and when they are done it will be something that is beautiful and of value. A creator has the ability to see what others do not.

In the book of Genesis, Joseph’s father had made him a coat of many colors and his brother hated him for it and is jealous. Joseph has a dream and shares it with them and his father and its gets him in more trouble. The brothers plot to kill him; they strip him of his robe and throw him into an empty cistern. He finds himself in a precarious position, a place of insignificance, a dry place, a place of separation. We find Judah standing in between a plot by his brothers to kill and a brother in a predicament. Judah means praise. Praise will always stand between betrayal, threat and accusation.

God sees the value in Joseph and He will walk him through a process that will eventually bring him into leadership. He later is used as a valuable vessel with his brothers who hated him and he will become their salvation in a land of famine.

I believe Joseph knew who he was with or without the coat that his father made for him. God had a plan and man tried to thwart it. It says of him many times, ‘the Lord gave him success in everything he did.’

If you have pieces that look hopeless or you stand accused, betrayed or a plot against you. Let Praise fill you. Throw him the pieces of your life and let Him create something beautiful.

Heart of Gladness

"He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him

occupied with gladness of heart." Ecclesiastes 5:20 (NIV)

How many times an effectual door is opened and we are thrilled and elated at the prospect of ministry and then for some reason it is closed and our heart sinks.

What is the reaction of our heart in regard to our emotions. Is it turned heavenward or earthward. Do we find disappointment, questioning etc taking over our thoughts.

If we allow God to keep our heart filled with gladness we would find that disappointments are a stepping stone to something greater. A door has to be closed before another will open. There is also a process of walking from one door to the other.

I heard a pastor once say that Jesus was Father conscious and not earthly conscious. Lift your eyes unto the hills where your help comes from. Be glad and Rejoice in Him!!!

Unfailing Love in a shaking world

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, 'says the Lord, who has compassion on you" Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)

Every day there is something new from our government that is shaking all that has been familiar. But know this, there is one thing that will not be shaken and that is His unfailing love for us. That is a certainty. And in Him is everything you need. Is your need

• PEACE
• JOY
• SECURITY
• HEALING

He is the peace that passes understanding...He is Joy Unspeakable - the joy of the Lord is our strength....We are hidden with Christ in God.....In Him we live and move and have our being. He is Jehovah Ropheka, my healer.....HE IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED HIM TO BE WHEN YOU NEED HIM.

'For God so loved the world(YOU) that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Blessings of God

Life on a farm is always a challenge. We have 31 animals at present. Eleven babies were born this season. We pray the mothers will all deliver and accept their babies plus so many other things that can go wrong. Throughout the summer we switch pastures from one side of the road to the other. And what a time we had the first time this year. We had babies going in all directions and a couple of cows that had never put their feet on tar simply stopped. It took 3 adults and 3 kids plus a driver who was stopped and waiting to conquer the job and get them into the pasture. They will go easier the rest of the summer now they have done it once.

The children love to come and see the little ones. This is Uncle Richard and Jolene walking carefully through the pasture. He is the only one that can do this and the cows do not run. He says, 'They know the master's voice' This is a picture when I got too close and they ran. Their mothers were not far away.
I took a lot of pictures this year and really like this shot. The only thing that comes to mind is 'the blessing of the Lord is rich and adds no sorrow'

Four things you can't recover.

I was cleaning out my document folder and came across this little saying. I do not know where it came from but it is so true and gives one 'food for thought'.

The Stone ......after the throw

The Occasion....after its missed

The word.....after it's said

The time....after it's gone

How many time stones have been thrown that have hurt someone. I remember years ago God spoke to me and said 'Don't throw the stone' and 'Don't receive the stone'.

Occasions that we miss. A card we could have sent, a baked good, or tell someone we prayed for them today....and 'I love you'..and on and on....

The word that can give life or death to someone. Many years ago a preacher told the story of a woman who gossiped. And God said to her, 'it was like taking a pillow and going up on the roof and letting the feathers fly wherever they wanted. It would be impossible to go pick them all up.' Our words that hurt another can never be retrieved after they are said.

Our time that is precious and so fleeting. Taking the time to sit in Father's presence and let Him love on us and commune with us. How precious.

These are thoughts to think about today in our lives and remember a little saying,

'Yesterday is history,

Tomorrow is a mystery,

but today is a gift.

That is why it is called present.'

Mother's love-just a thought

Just a quick thought today. I have been reading and meditating on 2 Sam. 21. It is the story of Rizpah, the mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth born to her and Saul.
Joshua and Israel had made a treaty with the Gibeonites that they would be safe and not die as the other Canaanites. But Saul breaks the vow and tries to annihilate them. David steps in and asks the Canaanites how can he make amends so that they would continue to bless Israel. The answer was to let seven of Saul's male descendants be given to them to be killed and exposed before the Lord.
We could focus on Saul's disobedience or why God would allow this to happen but my thought is toward a mother's powerful love. It says she took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. She protected those bodies, as they hung, day and night from the attack of the birds of the air and the wild animals. Through wind, rain and the dangers of night she protects the children she gave birth to taking no thought of the danger she could have been in.
The focus is not on the death of the sons but a mother who is dedicated and does what is in her hands to do. She stands in the way of the enemy that comes to devour her seed.
Today, we as mothers of the living can stand in the gap and pray for our children that the enemy will not devour our seed and that they will be protected from the evil one that would come and try to take their life.

http://www.cbc.ca/bc/features/eaglecam/
Click on this to see eagles nest. CBC British Columbia live camera.

I have been watching a pair of eagles. They have 3 little ones and it is fun to watch them interact. They bring back food and tear it apart and feed the little ones...the time is a little bit different than ours. So if you find it is dark it is because it is night...Turn up your sound and you can hear them.
I am reminded of all the scriptures about eagles.

Deu. 32:11....like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over it's young.
that spreads its wins to catch them and carries them on its pinions.

Psalm 103:5...who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Are you standing on the Wall

Are you standing as a watchman for you congregation, your family, a friend or situation in your life?

Ezekiel 3:17 Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel;

Habakkuk 2:1 I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart.

(rampart could be a wall or an embankment usually surmounted by a parapet, encircling a fort for defense against any attack)

A watchmen in the scripture represented a person who was on a literal wall and watched for #1. Fires that would bring danger. 2. Wild animals that could sneak up at night. 3. An army that would move in under the cover of darkness. Then, finally the rising of the sun that would reveal all the hidden things before them.

Being faithful as a watchmen was important in those days. I am sure they faced weariness night after night. It took faithfulness, perseverance, determination to stand at their post. Not being deterred by the temptation to give up but to press on knowing you stood between the people and the enemy.

In the previous scriptures Ezekiel was to hear what God said to him and to give warning to Israel. Habakkuk was to watch and see what God would say to Him.

He does not leave us alone in the position of intercession but will speak to the situation before us. It is important to remember God's appointment and to be faithful to the place He has planted us and to listen to what He is saying and be obedient.

Do Not Worry

We are living in a world that is full of turmoil. There is not much that is positive on the news. Changes are happening on every hand and we have no say over them. The bible tells us in
Philippians 4:6 "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace."

On another blog it asked what our favorite scripture was. The one that has stood by me for many years is Acts 17:28:a, "In Him, I live and move and have my being". I am safe in Him because He is my salvation. When I was 9 years old I asked him to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. I have served Him a long time and He has never failed me even though I have failed Him. He is faithful and just to forgive me when I sin. I am always so aware of His presence around me and His keeping power in my life. My trust is in Him.

One of my husband's passions, since he was a young boy, was to own cows. We have several and it is birthing time here on the farm. When that calf is born that mother hovers over that little one and will protect it from anything that comes near. We also have the danger of coyotes and at night you can hear them howling ready to attack. If you go to the barnyard you will find the other cows in the pasture forming a circle around that mother and calf. It is quite amazing to watch their protection. How much more the God we serve protects, gives us peace in the midst of a dangerous changing world. "Set you minds on things above, not on earthly thing. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" Colossians 3:2-3.

Grandsons

Saturday was a beautiful wedding day for Andrew and Hannah and they asked me to be the pianist. It was a beautiful church with a baby grand piano and I thoroughly enjoyed the 1 1/2 hours I sat there. It was a large wedding and I was reminded of Jesus whose first miracle took place at wedding.

We enjoyed a wonderful buffet at the reception and of course I took a picture of my grandsons, Jake and Josh...my granddaughter opted out. I am one of those Gram's that usually tries to capture special moments. Thought you might enjoy the young ones that give me such joy. We have sleep-overs, bake cookies and of course always go to the Dollar store. Gram's are softies and they always come home with what they think is a treasure.

He is not Here...He is Risen!!

Do you feel overwhelmed by a situation? Do you need to make a decision? Life appears uncertain and if you knew what tomorrow held you would feel better? The disciples are overwhelmed, uncertain and now sure what tomorrow holds.

Our home fellowship meets every other week We read Luke 24 and discussed different points. To me it is a very powerful passage.

It is the story of the road to Emmaus. Two disciples (not the 12) were walking and discussing what had happened in the recent days and Jesus comes along and joins them. The amazing thing is that they do not recognize Him thinking he was a visitor to Jerusalem. Jesus asks them 'What are you discussing together as you walk along?" Their heads were bowed to the ground feeling very sad, dejected and I am sure at a loss. They tell Him about Jesus of Nazareth and that He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. and that he was sentenced to death, crucified and that their hope was that He would redeem Israel. It had been three days and the women had gone to the tomb with spices and did not find his body. The angels told them He was alive.

Jesus listens and says to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"

He continues to explain to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Then He acts as if he is going farther but, they urge him to stay with them.

A powerful thing happens when he joins them at the table. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized Him and then He disappears.

Then they remember and say to each other, "Were not our hearts burning with us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

They found themselves in a difficult situation and had their eyes on the natural, contemplating, reasoning and their circumstance looked hopeless and they did not even recognize the one they had walked with when He came along to join them on the road. They realize that when He spoke to them after sharing bread that they had felt, burned or mused (different translations)within as they walked. This an excellent picture of walking in the flesh and the spirit.

We reason about the things around us and fall into the trap of trying to figure it out. All we have to do is turn our eyes heavenward and He will speak and give direction to those who love and serve Him. Jesus had a lesson for them in that it says they were kept from recognizing Him. We do not know His purpose except that maybe he was teaching them that their thoughts needed to be heaven bound and not earth bound.

Where are YOUR eyes today? Are they on the situation that seems impossible or can you hear the still small voice of your Savior. Ponder your situation and fix your eyes heavenward off the situation and you will find JOY, PEACE AND REST!

HE IS NOT HERE; HE IS RISEN!!! Matt. 28:6a

Blessing on this Glorious Easter Season..

Is Christ Divided?

I hear people say, "I am so glad I am of this denomination or that denomination." When I hear them lifting up their church I cringe as the Lord said, "If I be lifted up I will draw all men."

I have been reading Corinthians and was reminded of the scripture in 1 Cor. 1: 11-13 - "My brothers some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided?

This the Easter Season and we are remembering Christ and the suffering and the price He paid for our salvation. It is a reminder that we all must come to the foot of the cross and ask forgiveness and that no one is better than another. It is He who leads and guides us through life in the experience of growing in Him.

If I say I am of this church or that church it does not mean a thing in the Kingdom of God. It is that I am born again and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me from all my sin and that makes you my sister or brother no matter what denomination you are from if You have asked Jesus Christ into your heart.

Let us remember His triumphal entry into Jerusalem that begins the Easter season.
John 12:12-13. The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Blessed is the King of Israel!"

Grandchildren and pin cushions

I made small pin cushions at our local quilt group. My grand kids came to stay overnight and wanted to make 'big' ones. So here they are with their designs...Josh with the yellow and Jake with the brown rooster...Of course they have their silly smiles but they bring joy to my heart. And it is always fun to make a memory.
Scriptures talks about 'remembrances'. When I am gone they will remember the times they picked the fabric, buttons for the eyes, and felt and choosing their colors so carefully and oh they were particular.
It is my joy to instill in them the principles of a Christ filled life when interacting with them. This will be my legacy one day.

My son's

Pictured L to R Bruce - Mike - and parents

Our son, Bruce's 50th birthday....oh it makes me feel old!!....Rachel and Emily,his step daughter's plus his wife, Vickie plus others worked hard cooking and setting up. Parties are fun but a lot of work. The most wonderful surprise for me was our son, Mike surprised everyone by coming home from Tn. We do not get to see him often although I talk with him several times a week by phone and we email so that keeps us connected. I talked to him that morning...the plan was for him to call at 5:00pm and talk to Bruce at the party. It was running late so I called him at 5:15pm so he could talk to him....little did we know he was outside waiting to make his surprise entrance. He led the 'happy birthday' song. And made the comment...He was the 1st to go to high school 1st to a drive car....1st to date etc..but he was glad that he was not 1st for the 50th birthday..and of course we all laughed. It was wonderful to have him home. Our sons and their families bring us great joy!!!

When Bruce was around 7 years old he got impetigo playing in the dirt with friends. If you know anything about that it does not just go away and it grows very fast. We were in a church that believed in healing for today and so we prayed. He wanted to go fishing with his dad and a group of others but I knew it was highly contagious. He asked, if he would fast and pray and believe God to heal him would I let him go. Of course what can a mother say about a son's faith. We allowed him to go fishing with impetigo and he came home healed. The faith of a child is powerful. In those years I did not take any meds, go to Dr's etc. If the kids were sick in the morning before school we prayed and God would heal them. Mike as a young boy was run over by a grain thresher down in the field and it broke his leg with bones showing...his dad prayed and by the time they got to the house there was just a black and blue mark and the next day when he went to show it to a man in the church there was no marks at all. God has done several miracles for us over the years. Mike was just recently healed from diabetes. In 1958 I was diagnosed with cancer and walk free after walking the walk of faith and not taking chemo or radiation. God spoke and I obeyed! A scripture I came across lately,

"Sing praises to the Lord.

Tell about His Miracles"

Psm 105:2 comtemporary english version

So I am sharing some of our walk with the Lord. The key to healing is 'What is God saying to you" and all you have to do is walk in it. He has us walk a unique walk for ourselves and that is what I love about the Lord. He leads and guides me personally. Did he perform a miracle or healing...it does not matter 'HE DID IT" Praise His Wonderful Name!

Children's Children are a Crown

"Children's children are a crown to the aged" Prov. 17:6

My grandchildren and great-grandchildren are a joy to my heart. I consider them 'blessings from heaven'. These are pics taken and made into a special Christmas insert sent with my cards this year.

I love the parents of these children but there is something so special about their offspring. Grandparents are so important and hold a special place in their lives. Some of the grandchildren live near me. I also have two grandsons in Tn. that are grown and I do not get to see often.

Ali, 13 going on 20, it is always a highlight and special when she visits or stays overnight. She helps me clean and loves Hallmark movies and very independent as teens are. She owns a horse and loves to farm. I kid with her and tell her she has her Cramp's gene's who has farmed since he was a young boy. She is quite the basketball and soccer player, also plays piano like her Gram. A special memory was when we sang together on Mother's day at my church. Oh my heart swelled.

These are Jacob and Joshua -10 years old...when they hit the door of Gram's house it is theirs and they play with their train, trucks, their own offline computer, we have even baked cookies. Of course, Gram always lets them have what they want to eat if she has it. They bring life to a home. They are home schooled, play piano, love to drive snowmobiles and in the summer go-carts anything with speed. When asked what are their names they say, 'trouble and double-trouble'. They are double treasures to me and I pray they will grow up to be men of God used by Him.
Great -Grand-daughters, Liv-7 and Ella-2 with J and J.
When you get older your real desire is to instill in them the faith you have walked in. I have known Jesus for 60 years and have experienced many things. My prayer is that when I am gone that they will remember that I loved and walked with God. I have a journal for Ali that I started when she was very little. In it are stories about my parents, how I got saved, quotes, poems, scriptures, little nuggets of truth. I plan to give it to her when she is older...I have taken photo's of J and J and Ali since they were babies and have a box for each of them. We do live in an uncertain world and the Lord may come at any time. I am occupying until He comes.
MY TREASURES FROM HEAVEN

'HEDGED IN by GOD'

Reckon it nothing but joy…whenever you find yourself hedged in by the various trials…James 1:2 Weymouth

Job 3:23 Job speaks of being hedged in by God.
Hedge means restriction or hindrance to our movement.
It is important how we view it.

Do we feel confined by God?
Do we feel disciplined?
De we view it as a protection from something or constraint/confinement
Do we try to break out of it?
Do we resist?
Do we complain or grumble?

Our view can determine our outcome.
There is value in a hedge

Satan recognized the hedge God had placed around Job.
Job 1:10 ‘..have you not made a hedge around him….’ Satan could only touch what God allowed him to.

We live on a farm and I received a call last week that a calf was loose about a mile from here. The owner had released the calf to the authorities and they asked us if we wanted it and to come get it. After a space of time my grandson came in house huffing and puffing. He was excited that he and his dad had just led him down the road and placed him in our cattle body. They fed him hay, grain, water and made him comfortable.

He was now safe, confined to a specific place where he was being taken care of and would find nourishment and no harm could come to him. He may not realize it is the best place for him at the moment. He was now protected from predators, dangers, and even from himself.

Do you ever feel hedged in by God? In a confined area not to your liking. Do you kick, holler and complain? It has been my experience I have no control over the times God hedges me in and when I am done complaining, questioning etc and come to peace within myself then God can work to let me out. The new owner knew what it would take to help him regain his loss and make him healthy to join with the other animals. Six days later he was placed with the other cows.

Are you confined and hedged in by God in circumstances that you cannot change. Trust the one you belong to He will bring release and bring you into a large place you know not of. That calf did not know what awaited him as he had never been here before. Little did he realize he would join a herd of cattle in the days ahead in an abundant large pasture.

Job 23:10 nkjv
10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

14 For He performs (completes KJV) what is appointed for me. And many such things are with Him.

Allow the hedge to do its work!!

WORDS

'Let the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Your sight.

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. '

Psalm 19:14

These are words I memorized as a child and pray often. In cleaning out for the New Year I came across a poem about Words published in Evangel January 1986.

WORDS

Words....

as a weapon

can be used to destroy

or

enhance a life.

Words....

can cast ugly,

dark shadows

or

illuminate the blackest night of life.

Words..

can be soothing ointment

or

salt in an open wound.

Words...

can make heavy the heart

or

lighten the heaviest burden.

Words...

can kill hope

or

rekindle

a flickering flame of faith in a heart.

-Lillian M. Chism

The bible says, 'There is life and death in the power of the tongue'. Words that we speak can give life or death. And it is my prayer always that what I say and what I think would be those of Jesus. Oh Lord let me think before I speak and the things I think about be acceptable to you. And that I always bring life to others as well as myself. Amen.

Caleb - exciting bath after cancer!!!

I wanted to post an update to the story below about Caleb-4 years old who has walked through cancer and came out victorious....Rejoicing in a bath and hair....


Caleb enjoyed his first real bath since May! He was so excited to be able to lay down in the water and not have to worry about getting his line wet. This was a bath like no other! Lots of water (neck deep), plenty of bubbles and an army of dinosaurs! He was in there for a LONG time and he kept shouting, "Look Mom! No PICC line.....I'm free!
We also found him in the bathroom standing in front of a mirror carefully combing his hair. He doesn't say much about it but he is loving his hair growing back in.
Julie, his mom

Caleb - 4 His Victory over Cancer

This is Caleb and his beloved puppy. They are sleeping in the dog bed. Pretty soon he will have to have a haircut. I am sure he will love that.

Oh doesn't he like to cuddle in a toasty blanket.

Following is the journey of Caleb - 4 and his family for a year. I posted a prayer request a few months ago. At the end of the words in red is a story of VICTORY!!! Praise God.

1st Posting

I am sharing the story of my dear friend Betty's grandson who has been diagnosed with cancer. He is the son of Pastor’s Jeff and Julie(her daughter), Sister Maggie, and Brothers, Zachary and Spencer. They live in Maryland. A healthy 4 year old running and playing and having fun and the next day diagnosed with a life threatening disease called cancer. I will only hit the highlights of the story. My purpose is that you would pray for healing.Caleb’s story begins in Dec. 2007 when blood was found in his urine, His pediatrician did a urinalysis and blood work and nothing showed up and was dismissed as a virus. On May 15, 2008 His mom Julie, took Caleb in for what was a routine check for STREP. A CNP examined him thoroughly and felt a mass and he was sent for tests and a malignant tumor was found in his kidney. He faced stage 3 cancer which had spread also to the tissue and blood vessels. He had the surgery to remove the kidney and would continue with radiation and 27 weeks of chemo.
In the midst of this his mom tells a story. His dad, Jeff, tells Caleb every night before bed that they are best buddies forever. Lying in bed with his dad one night, Caleb said, “Daddy, when we get to heaven will we still be best buddies?” “Of course”, Jeff assured him that they would. Then another night Caleb was rubbing his dad’s head and he said, “Don’t worry daddy, when I’m done chemo our hair will grow back. How precious this little one. It makes you wonder what goes through a child’s thoughts.

UPDATE:SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2008

Caleb had follow up tests this past week and he is tumor free but he still faces the last part of his chemo treatment every 3 weeks.His mom’s words:"My son has cancer and I never would have dreamed we would be living this out. Nobody does, I guess. The word HOPE has a new and deeper meaning for parents of children with cancer. I look at Caleb through different eyes now. I spend more time just watching him play or even sleep. Not because I have a sense of doom about him but because I am so much more aware of what I would lose if he were not with us.And so now we go for chemo every three weeks in D.C. "
Isaiah 53:5 He was wounded for our transgressions.
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was up Him.
And by His stripes we are healed.
Stand with this family as they fight this battle with their son over cancer.

VICTORIOUS UPDATE - Monday, January 5, 2008 by his mom

This just in....Caleb's scans are all negative! Everything looks good in there and we are so relieved to have those tests behind us. Thank you for praying and please don't stop now! If Caleb should relapse, the first year following treatment is the most likely time for it to happen. Most kids do fine and do not relapse, but some do. Knowing this will keep us ever watchful as he will get scans every three months.
But we are rejoicing in the good news and look forward to watching Caleb regain his hair, some weight to hold his pants up and freedom from the PIC line. Lots of tub time coming up!
During Sunday night service I was holding Caleb on my lap and the presence of God was so close and so sweet.I realized I was holding in my arms GOD'S child. The tears fell as I breathed in his sweet scent and marveled at the privilege of simply holding him.At that same moment,Jeff stood up and said that God had just spoken peace to him concerning Caleb.No matter what....PEACE.
Julie

I rejoice for the family and my prayer is that it will be a year of His Healing, His Love, His Presence, His Provision, His Wisdom and that God would pour into this family all that they need. Thank You Lord for answering our prayers.